Punch tape sensing condenser



Mam}! 1951 E. o. ROGGENSTEIN 2,546,784

PUNCH TAPE SENSING CONDENSER Filed Feb. 12, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIGI I 13 v 13 E AGENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 iNVENTQfi AGENT L DDDU :I :DDUDUUUHIID EQROGGENSTEIN E. O. ROGGENSTEIN PUNCH TAPE SENSING CONDENSER FIGS March 27, 1951 Filed Feb. 12, 1948 (aduuunnncmmfgtnnn upucunuunncm March 27, 1951 E. o. ROGGENSTEIN PUNCH TAPE SENSING CONDENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 12, 1948 FIG.9

mvsu'ron BOROGGENSTEIN AGENT Patented Mar. 27, 1951 PUNCH TAPE SENSING CONDENSER Edwin G. Roggcnstein, Ilion, N. Y., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporaticn of Delaware Application February 12, 1948, Serial No. 7,935

3 Claims.

the formula that variations in the eiiective area of the plates cause linear results. This is true of variations in the nature of the dielectric. This invention deals with devices utilizing these principles.

The invention contemplates a capacitive apparatus for the sensing of flat sheets of record material having data recorded thereon in a code suitable for controlling business machines, the respective elements or characters of the code being recorded by holes of different sizes punched in the record material.

This may be done in several ways. One such device is disclosed my co-pending application S. N. 3,341, filed January 20, i948, now Fatent 2,512,879 i sued June 27, 1950. Of those to be described here, one has means for feeding a metallic or metaliized tap-e, having holes of varying sizes punched into beneath a positively charged plate. The tape is separated from this plate by a disc of dielectric material of equal area. A source of negative potential is connected to the tape so that the tape forms the second plate or the sensing condenser. ence of holes in the tape changes the efifective area of the condenser in accordance with the position of the moving tape.

Another device employs means for feeding a tape of dielectric material, punched with holes of varying sizes, between two metal plates having a potential applied across them. The size of the hole determines the relative amounts of solid dielectric and air within the efiective volume of the condenser and so its capacity. These changes in capacity are utilized as before.

Variations in the thickness of the record ma terial also change capacity and two means have been devised to compensate for these changes.

One such means is to insert a smaller plate within the larger upper plate mounted so that it is free to move within the larger upper plate in'response to variations in the thickness of the dielectric material. This smaller plate is elec- The pres 2 trically insulated from the larger upper plate and forms a capacitor with it. so formed are connected in parallel and the'arrangements are such that an increase in dielectric thickness reduces the capacity of the main capacitor and increases the capacity or" the aux iliary capacitor by an equal amount thus compensating for irregularities in the thickness of the dielectric.

Another means is to have a similar auxiliary plate that mechanically communicates its motion to a movable plate associated with a fixed plate to again form a capacitor that has its capacity increased by an increase in thickness of the dielectric to the same extent that the capacity of the main capacitor is reduced. The tvo'capacitors are connected in parallel as before to give a compensating effect.

An object of this invention is to produce a variation of an electrical signal in accordance with variations in the areas of holes in a record material.

Another object of this invention is to make these electrical signals independent of variations in the thickness of the record material. "i

Another object of the invention is to make the signal amplitudes vary linearly with the size of the hole.

Still another object or the invention is to sense the" information from a plurality of holes spaced across the width of the recording medium.

Still another object of this invention is to sense information presented in the form of holes in dielectric material.

Still anotherobject of this invention is to sense" information-presented in the form or" holes in conductive material. I

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a block diagram of the sensing unit;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the capacitor and. metal tape; v I

Fig. 3 is a section along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in phantom of two of the capacitors shown in Figs. 2 and 3 combined into a single unit. H y

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the sensing unit; j

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the capacitor and tape of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5; I,

Fig. 7 shows a portion of the capacitor shown in Fig. 6 on an enlarged scale to di close a method of compensating for irregularities in the thick ness of the tape;'

Fig. 8 is a top view of a modificatiori'o'f the compensating feature;

' Fig. 9 is a section taken through a e of Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig; l, the numera refer'sto.

the record bearing material, in this case, metal The two capacitors.

tape resting on an anvil 2| and having punched in it holes 22 positioned under a plate of dielectrio material 23 and a conductive metal plate 24. The. metal tape 211, the dielectric plate 23 and the metal plate 2t form a condenser that is connected across the tank circuit of an oscillator 25 by leads 26 and 27. The lead 26 connects one end of the tank circuit andthe plate 24 and the lead 21 connects. the other end of the tank circuit and the contacts 4-3. is carried under the plates 21-} and 2 by sprocket wheels 28 and 30. The output of this oscillator is converted into variations in a direct current in a discriminator or converting circuit represented schematically by the block 35 which is, described in detail in applicantis above mentioned application Serial No. 3,341, now Patent 2,512,319: issued June 27, 1950. This varying directcurrent is applied to the utilization circuit represented schematically by the block 32. which may consist o.f"relays and solenoids.

As the recordbe-aring material is drawn under plates 23'and2 3, changes in the size of the holes 22 punched therein change .the eifecti've area within, the. electrostatic field between the. plate 24 and the metal tape 29.. The changes inthe capacity of the'tank circuit of the oscillator 25' vary its frequency. These frequency changes are convertedinto varying direct current by the converter 3| and utilized by means of relays and solenoids inthe circuits schematically represented by the. block 32. These circuits may be similar to those shown in copending; application Serial No. 3,341, filed January 0, 1M8, now- Patent 2,512 8f79issued. June 27, 1950..

The sensing head is shown in more detail in Figs; 2 and 3; It is mounted on a frame 33 by screws 34 fixed; into a dielectric block that carries. an anvil 2| the lower end of which is provided'with a knurled portion 31 for facilitating manual vertical movement of" the anvil. Ifhe anvil is urged upwardly against the tape 20 by means of a spring 38. Supporting braclte'ts are mounted on either side of the. block by screws 411 and 42.. Contact isv made with the tape by the pressure of contact springs t3 attached to the insulating block as by the bolts 35* formed with an enlarged section 49 that acts as a spacer between the blocks 35 and it. They also provide electrical. connection from the lead 21; to the contact springs. 33 through the lugs 46. The upper plate 2 5 is connected'to the circuit through lug 47 on the screw is that attaches the plate 2s to the block- M. The insulating blocks 35 and it are held together by screws T-he bolts by fitting into recesses in the block r 35 serve toalign the blocks 35 and 64-. The provision of two contact springs: as is for the purpose of maintaining an established circuit at theend of the tape run in either direction.

The metal tape ml is best shown in. Fig. Holes 22 of" various sizes are punched in the tape 20. The respective sizes may each represent a character or a digit according to a desired This tape may be fed between the plates by sprocket holes 58 cooperating with sprocket wheels 29 and 33 shown in. Fig. 1' driven in any convenient manner.

A, plurality, of laterally spaced holes, may be sensed by the modification shown invFig. l. Thev only change is that the plate 2%"; and. dielectric plate 23 and the anvil 2i assemblies. are duplicated. The contact springs 53 and associated biolts lt' and lugs. 46. remain the.- same except; for S. ZB,

The tape When tape 2!) bearing information in two laterally spaced holes 22 is passed through the device first one capacitor 2s 23-2e is switched in to the. tank circuit of the oscillator and then the other. By suitable arrangements of the utilization circuits in 32 the first capacitor may be used to select one of several groups of devices andthe second to select one among the selected group.

Another principle is utilized in the embodi-.

ment shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7. Variations in the characteristic of the dielectric of a capacitor vary the capacity of the capacitor formed by the two plates and the dielectric record material between them. A dielectric record material 53 pierced with holes 52 is passed between wo plates 53 and 54 by the sprocket wheels 28 and t l. The resulting capacitor is connected across the circuit of the oscillator 25 by the l ads and 2?. With solid dielectric between the platesv and 54. the capacitor will have one capacity. With a hole 22 in that portion of the dielectric between the plates, the dielectric is partially air and partially the material of the record bearing medium '5l. This shifts the effective dielectric constant of the capacitor by an amount dependent upon thev relative proportion of air and solid material between the plates 53 and 5 These proportions are determined by the site of the hole 52. These changes in capacity shift the frequency of operation of the oscillator 25 as described in connection with-Figs. l, 2 and 3 and the shifts are translated into changes in the amplitude of an electrical current by the con verting circuit 3i as described above. These variations in electrical current utilized as already described in a circuit 32.

The construction of the condenser is shown more in detail in Fig. The record bearing medium 51 is supported on the lower metallic plate fi-tithat is mounted in ahlock in any convenient manner and connected to the external circuit; The upper plate 5 5 is supported in an other block es and a spring of conductive material mounted upon the block 55 by screws 58-, but insulated from it by the insulating strip 6t and insulating plugs Si in such a manner as to permit the lead 28 to be connected to it.

This type of sensing capacitor can used in tandem to sense two or more holes spaced later-ally acrossthe tape 55 in much the same manner as the metal tape embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3- and 4 and described above;

Inaccuracies maybe introduced into the device by irregularities in the thickness of the dielectric record bearing medium. 55. These i'rregularities will vary, the relative proportions of 'r as of dielectric and air between the plates 53- the capacitor. Thin spots will increase the ca.- pacity by decreasing the separation of the plates 5'3 and'54.

Figs. 6 and '7 show a method of eon'ipensating,v The upper. plate 5 5".

by a bushing 55 Of. dielectric. material so that the upper plate as isinsulated from the conduc-- tive. material of the block 5.5 by an air gap. 55;

the. insulating lining 5S. and the bushing to form a. second capacitor.

contact with-the record bearing material a thin portion of therecord material is reached;

The upper plate. 5:? has. a rod portion that is carried through a hole. in. the block The plate urged downward by spring 5? so as to always be: in A5:

the plate 54 is thrust downward increasing the capacity of the main condenser. at the same time the smaller capacity formed by the upper side of the plate -54, the block 555, the lining 63 and air gap 6-5 is reduced by the increase in the air gap. When a thicker portion of the record material passes, the 55 is thrust upward by the tape 5i reducing the acity oi the main condenser 53-55 and increasing the capacity of the supplementary condenser 54, B3 and When the two capacitors are connected in parallel across the tuned circuit of the oscillator this reciprocal action gives the desired compensation.

This compensating action can be increased by the structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The upper plate 54 is as before free to move in a recess in the upper dielectric block 55 and communicates its movement by the metal rod 64 in response to the varying thickness of the record carrying medium 5! to a thin, flat, spring-like conductive plate 6? that may be made of beryllium copper shaped as shown in Fig. 8 This plate 87 is fixed at one end to the studs 68 by bolts iii. The rod 64 varies the spacing of the free end area of plate 6? from a second plate H adjustably supported in a bracket i2 by the with changing thickness of the tape The bracket 72 is attached to the upper dielectric block 5%} by the stud i i. The conductive plate E is electrically connected to the upper plate 5&- and the second upper plate is connected to ground.

As a thicker portion of the record material 5| comes into sensing position the plate 54 is thrust upward, this motion is communicated to the beryllium plate 61 by the rod 86 moving the plate 6'! nearer to the second upper plate TI to increase the capacity of the capacitor formed by these two plates 61 and H and the air gap between them. When the two capacitors are connected in parallel this compensates for the reduction in capacity caused by the increased separation of the main plates 53 and 55. With a thin spot in the record material, the action is reversed. The capacity of the main condenser 535 l increases due to the main plates moving together and the capacity of the auxiliary condenser 6?-l'i is reduced due to its plates moving apart. The amount of this compensation may be determined by adjusting the size of the auxiliary plates 67 and TI and their normal distance apart by means of the nut 13.

While I have described what I consider to be highly desirable embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that many changes in form could be made Without departin from the spirit of my invention, and I, therefore, do not limit myself to the exact form herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of my invention as hereinbefore set forth, and as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, an oscillator having a tuned circuit including two capacitors, a record carrying medium having variations in area along its length and also variations in thickness, one capacitor includin an upper plate of conductive material, the other capacitor including said plate and a second plate occupying a recess in the first plate and insulated from it, said second plate being free to move in and out or" the recess in response to the variations in thickness of the record material, means to connect the two capacitors in parallel so that increases in thickness of the record material will decrease the capacity of one capacitor by increasing the spacing of its plates and increase that of the other by decreasing the spacing of its plates to retain the total capacity of the two constant for the same area of dielectric material in a unit length of the record material regardless of variations in its thickness and circuit means including a plurality of magnetic devices selectively operable by the oscillator in accordance with the frequency thereof.

2. In a device of the character described, an oscillator having a tuned circuit including a first and second, capacitor, a record carrying medium having variations in area along its length and also variations in thickness, the first capacitor including an upper plate of conductive material substantially parallel to the record bearing material, a sup-porting structure of dielectric material having a recess in which said conductive plate fits and is free to move in response to variations in the thickness of the record material, the second capacitor including a fixed plate and a movable plate, means to communicate the movements of the movable plate of the first capacitor in response to variations in the thickness of the record material to a plate of the second capacitor, means to connect the two capacitors in parallel so that the changes in their capacity due to variations in the thickness of the record material and thus of the spacing of the plates of the respective capacitors are opposite in sense and thus compensate and circuit means includin a plurality of magnetic devices selectively operable by the oscillator in accordance with the extent of the change in the frequency thereof.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a record medium of dielectric material variably shaped according to the data recorded thereon, an oscillator, a capacitor for controlling the oscillator comprising two plates of conductive material, one of the plates being adapted to rest on the record medium so as to be displaced thereby with respect to the other plate in response to changing thickness or" the record medium, means for feeding the record medium between the plates to vary the capacity of the capacitor and correspondingly change the frequency of the oscillator, means controlled by the last mentioned capacitor plate for compensating the capacitor for changing thickness of the record medium, a plurality of magnetic devices, and circuits therefor selectively operable by the oscillator accordin to the frequency thereof.

EDWIN O. ROGGENSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA [5 NTS umber Name Date 1,855,569 Chireix Apr. 26, 1932 1,924,087 Allen Aug. 29, 1933 2,302,081 Weitman Nov. 17, 1942 2,424,833 Korman July 29, 1947 ,445,663 Doelz July 20, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 556,292 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1943 

